Docking station for tablet device

ABSTRACT

A docking station for a tablet device includes a security frame that is releasably connected to a pedestal. An upper head portion of the pedestal is rotatable through three degrees of freedom to allow for angular adjustment of the frame as it retains a tablet device. Electrical conductivity is maintained through the rotational connection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 USC 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/667,436, filed Aug. 2, 2017, entitled “DOCKING STATION FOR TABLET DEVICE,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/097,171, filed Dec. 4, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,760,116, entitled “DOCKING STATION FOR TABLET DEVICE,” which claims priority under 35 USC 119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/733,842, filed Dec. 5, 2012, and entitled, “DOCKING STATION FOR TABLET DEVICE,” the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference; this application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/875,990, filed Jan. 19, 2018, entitled “DOCKING STATION FOR TABLET DEVICE.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

The design disclosed below relates to a docking station for a tablet device. More particularly, the design relates to a docking station that allows the tablet device to be used as a work station, or alternatively, the tablet device can be undocked and used remotely from the work station position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, electronic tablet devices (or “tablets”) have evolved such that they are now performing many of the functions that were formerly performed by laptop or desktop computers. The processing capability of tablets now allow them to perform standard business functions.

Because of their size and portability, one of the problems associated with the use of tablets in a business setting relates to physical security and/or theft of the device itself. The design disclosed here addresses these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following is a summary of the various improvements disclosed in this document.

The disclosed design is a docking station that is primarily intended to be used in connection with tablet devices. Tablet devices are well-known electronic devices. They are sometimes called electronic tablets, tablet computers, or just “tablets.”

The docking station disclosed here includes a security frame portion for retaining the tablet. The security frame portion surrounds the tablet and provides a framework for carrying the tablet from place-to-place while retained within the security frame.

The frame portion carries or has a first universal adapter that electrically couples the tablet to the frame portion. The universal adapter is designed so that it may electrically couple to the different kinds of connection ports that relate to different brands of tablets. As a person skilled in the art would know, these connection ports provide a means for transmitting power and data to and from the tablet.

The docking station also includes a pedestal, or pedestal portion, that normally rests on a workstation surface or the like. The pedestal has a connecting head portion that provides a means for releasably connecting the above-described frame portion to the pedestal portion. The head portion carries a second universal adapter for electrically coupling the head portion to the first universal adapter on the frame portion, previously described, when the frame portion is connected or “docked” to the pedestal portion.

Another feature of the design involves a rotational connection between the head portion of the pedestal and a lower base portion of the pedestal. The rotational connection enables three degrees of angular orientation or adjustment of the head portion relative to the base portion. This, in turn, allows for adjustment of the view angle of the tablet when it is docked.

The base portion is connectable to or provides electrical connection ports for at least one electrical signal, although preferably, it includes ports for numerous kinds of electrical connections that normally involve power and data. A conductor pathway is provided through the base member to the universal adapter carried by the head portion by crossing the rotational connection between the head portion and the base portion. This allows electrical connectivity to be maintained regardless of the angular portion of the frame (and tablet) relative to the pedestal.

Another feature of the design involves locking the frame to the pedestal. While this may be accomplished in different ways, the design disclosed here includes an electronic lock for additional security

The foregoing summary will become better understood upon review of the attached drawings which are to be taken in conjunction with the written description set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a docking station constructed in accordance with the patent claims;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the docking station;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the docking station;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a security frame portion of the docking station that holds or retains a tablet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a back-side part of the security frame portion illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adapter portion of the security frame illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back-side of the security frame portion illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pedestal portion of the docking station illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the head of the pedestal portion illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 9, but is taken from the back-side perspective of the pedestal portion;

FIG. 11 is a view of the lower portion of the pedestal portion illustrated in FIG. 8, with a cover removed to reveal an electronics board;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the docking station, showing angular rotation of the tablet device; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12 and shows different rotational positions of the tablet device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, indicated generally at 10 is a docking station in accordance with the present disclosure. The docking station 10 includes a security frame portion, indicated generally at 12, and a pedestal portion, indicated generally at 14.

The pedestal portion 14 surrounds and captures a tablet device 16. The outline of the tablet's screen is indicated by dashed line 18 in FIG. 1. The activating button on the tablet is indicated at 20.

Although the frame 12 is illustrated here as surrounding and capturing the tablet 16, it is to be understood that there could be other physical embodiments that perform the same function without completely surrounding the entire or full periphery of the tablet 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, further details of the frame portion 12 will now be described. FIG. 4 illustrates the frame portion 12 without the tablet inside (looking at the front). As can be seen from the Fig., it has a rectangular peripheral edge 22 that captures the edge of the tablet 16. Depending on the configuration, the edge structure 22 may be provided with built-in openings for different kinds of tablet access ports (for the purpose of pushing buttons on the tablet or accessing jacks, etc.).

The frame 12 carries a first electrical adapter, indicated generally at 24 in FIGS. 4 and 6, that provides the needed electrical connection to the tablet 16. The adapter 24 is “universal” in that it has a universal connector fitting 26 that would be shaped to fit a variety of different kinds of tablets (tablet variations are dictated by brand). Typically, and as a person skilled in the art would understand, the universal adapter 24 provides power and data connections for the tablet—i.e., power for the device's battery, etc., and data for network or Internet connections, if hard-wired connections are desired. The conductors for the universal adapter 24 run through a stem portion 28 (see FIG. 6 of the universal adapter 24).

FIG. 5 illustrates the back-side or back plate 30 of the frame portion 12. It is surrounded by the edge 22 previously described. As is shown in FIG. 5, it has an opening 30 for capturing the universal adapter 24 previously described. When all of these components are assembled together, it produces the frame portion of the docking station indicated in FIG. 4 (the front side) and FIG. 7 (the back side).

Referring now to FIG. 8, reference numeral 14 generally indicates the pedestal portion of the docking station 10. The pedestal portion includes an upper head portion, indicated generally at 36, and a lower base portion, indicated generally at 38. The head portion 36 carries a second universal adapter 40 that connects into a similar connector fitting in a recess of 42 of the first adapter 24.

The first adapter 24 releasably rests on protrusions 44, 46 on head portion 36. It has a conventional catch 48 that allows adapter 24 (and therefore, frame 12) to be releasably connected to and from the pedestal portion 14 (via the head 36).

An advantage to the design is that the portion fitting 40 adjacent the front face 52 of head portion 36 creates a reliable interface connection point for engagement/disengagement of the first universal adapter 24 (and frame portion 12) with the pedestal portion 14.

The head portion 36 is designed to rotate at three physical positions. The first position is indicated by arrow 50 in FIG. 9, which illustrates a circular rotation of the front face 52 of the head portion about an axis that would project normally out from face 52. When the frame portion 12 is mounted to the pedestal 14, this arrangement provides one degree of freedom of rotation that would allow the tablet 16 to be rotated between portrait and landscape orientations, if desired. Arrow 54 in FIG. 10 points to another area designed to allow the head 36 to rotate up or down to rotationally lift or lower the screen of the tablet for vertical positioning, as desired.

Finally, arrow 56 points to a last position for angularly rotating the head about a vertical or upright axis for angularly adjusting the tablet screen 16 from left-to-right, as desired.

The physical structure of the above rotational connections can take different forms, using different types of pins or moldings that allow one part to rotate relative to another. In all cases, what is important about the design is that it allows three degrees of rotation without interfering with the wiring in the pedestal portion. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate different possible rotational positions.

In this last respect, FIG. 11 illustrates base portion 38 with its cover plate 60 removed, thus exposing an electronics control board (ECB) 58 inside the base portion. A series of electrical connector fittings (USB, etc.) are electrically connected to the ECB 58 for providing data or power. These electrical signals are passed, via wiring, or a wiring harness, up through the body of the pedestal 14, which is hollow. The position of the wiring is schematically indicated by dashed line 63 in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 10, the pedestal 14 has openings 64, 66 that enable the wiring to pass through the head space, and through the physical zone of rotational connections described above. This allows rotation without stressing the wiring. The wiring connects to a board 67 upon which the second adapter fitting 40 rests. The board 67 provides the wiring connections to the fitting 40.

Finally, the frame portion 12 could be releasably locked to the pedestal portion via a RFID lock if desired. The ECB 58 in the base portion has surface space for a RFID sensor 70 that could detect a wireless keycard, if desired. The sensor would activate locks on the head portion, upon detection of the keycard.

It is to be appreciated that the foregoing description sets forth the best known examples and embodiments. It is not intended that any of the foregoing description be used to limit the scope of the patent protection. Instead, all patent protection is to be defined solely by the patent claim or claims that follow this description, the interpretation of which is to be made according to the legal rules of patent claim interpretation and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A docking station for a tablet device, comprising: a frame assembly for retaining the tablet device, the frame assembly substantially surrounding the tablet device and comprising a first adapter for electrically coupling the tablet device to at least the frame assembly, the first adapter being electrically coupleable to a variety of different types of tablet devices; and a pedestal assembly for releasably connecting the frame assembly to the pedestal assembly via a locking structure disposed on the pedestal assembly to allow the frame assembly to be removed from the pedestal assembly via an associated unlock feature, the pedestal assembly comprising a second adapter positioned to create a detachable connection point for electrically coupling the second adapter to the first adapter while the frame assembly is releasably connected to the pedestal assembly.
 2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the unlock feature comprises an electronic unlock feature.
 3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein the electronic unlock feature comprises a wireless unlock feature.
 4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the wireless unlock feature comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) unlock feature.
 5. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the wireless unlock feature comprises a sensor operable to detect a wireless key.
 6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor.
 7. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the sensor activates the locking structure upon detection of the wireless key to allow the frame assembly to be removed from the pedestal assembly.
 8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the pedestal assembly comprises an electronics control board (ECB) coupleable to one or more electrical connector fittings for providing at least one of the following for the tablet device: power, networking, communication, or a combination thereof.
 9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical connector fittings comprise one or more of the following: one or more universal serial bus (USB) connector fittings; one or more power connector fittings; one or more network connector fittings; or any combination thereof.
 10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the pedestal assembly provides at least one electrical connection port for at least one electrical signal.
 11. A docking station for a tablet device, comprising: a frame assembly for retaining the tablet device, the frame assembly substantially surrounding the tablet device and comprising a first adapter having electrically interconnected fittings arranged at opposing sides of the frame assembly for electrically coupling the tablet device to at least the frame assembly, the first adapter being electrically coupleable to a variety of different types of tablet devices; and a pedestal assembly having a head portion for releasably connecting the frame assembly to the pedestal assembly via a locking structure disposed on the head portion to allow the frame assembly to be removed from the pedestal assembly via an associated unlock feature while retaining the tablet device within the frame assembly, the head portion comprising a second adapter positioned to create a detachable connection point at the head portion for electrically coupling the second adapter to the first adapter while the frame assembly is releasably connected to the head portion of the pedestal assembly.
 12. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the unlock feature comprises an electronic unlock feature.
 13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein the electronic unlock feature comprises a wireless unlock feature.
 14. The docking station of claim 13, wherein the wireless unlock feature comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) unlock feature.
 15. The docking station of claim 13, wherein the wireless unlock feature comprises a sensor operable to detect a wireless key.
 16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor.
 17. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the sensor activates the locking structure upon detection of the wireless key to allow the frame assembly to be removed from the pedestal assembly.
 18. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the pedestal assembly comprises an electronics control board (ECB) coupleable to one or more electrical connector fittings for providing at least one of the following for the tablet device: power, networking, communication, or a combination thereof.
 19. The docking station of claim 18, wherein the one or more electrical connector fittings comprise one or more of the following: one or more universal serial bus (USB) connector fittings; one or more power connector fittings; one or more network connector fittings; or any combination thereof.
 20. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the pedestal assembly provides at least one electrical connection port for at least one electrical signal.
 21. A docking station for a tablet device, comprising: a frame assembly for retaining the tablet device and having a framework for carrying the tablet device while retained within the frame assembly, the frame assembly substantially surrounding the tablet device and comprising a first adapter having a first connector fitting positioned at a front side of the frame assembly and a second connector fitting positioned at a back side of the frame assembly, one or more of the first and the second connector fittings being shaped to fit one or more types of tablet devices and capable of electrically coupling the tablet device to at least the frame assembly; and a pedestal assembly comprising a second adapter positioned on a face of a head portion of the pedestal assembly to create a detachable connection point for electrically coupling the second adapter to the first adapter while the frame assembly is releasably connected to the pedestal assembly, the pedestal assembly allowing for three axes of rotation of the frame assembly while releasably connected to the pedestal assembly via a locking structure, the locking structure being disposed between guiding members arranged on the face of the head portion so as to slidably guide the first adapter into the second adapter to create an electrical pathway extending through the frame assembly and the pedestal assembly for connecting the tablet device to at least one source of an electrical signal.
 22. The docking station of claim 21, wherein the framework comprises one or more carrying means arranged on the frame assembly for carrying the tablet device retained within the frame assembly while the frame assembly is removed from the pedestal assembly.
 23. The docking station of claim 21, wherein the rotation of the frame assembly is implemented via one or more portions of the pedestal assembly.
 24. The docking station of claim 21, wherein the locking structure comprises a sensor operable to detect a wireless key.
 25. The docking station of claim 24, wherein the sensor comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor.
 26. The docking station of claim 24, wherein the sensor activates the locking structure upon detection of the wireless key to allow the frame assembly to be removed from the pedestal assembly. 